The background
There’s no time for rest for Slaven Bilic and his West Ham United team as they make the long journey to Newcastle United on Saturday.
Fresh from defeating AFC Bournemouth 3-1 on Tuesday night, the Hammers will hope to make it a Club record in the Premier League and extend their unbeaten run to nine games.
Of those eight matches undefeated, the Hammers have won their last three to move to within a solitary point of the top four.
They showed real heart and character to pull off their result at Bournemouth, fighting back from a goal down to take the points thanks to a Dimitri Payet free-kick and Enner Valencia’s double.
Newcastle are in the drop zone, with 18 points from 21 matches, but did show heart of their own on Tuesday to come back from 3-1 behind to claim a point against Manchester United.
Hope seemed minimal when Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard fired United into a 2-0 lead, but back came Newcastle through Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
A second for Rooney gave the visitors the lead again, but Phil Dummett’s last gasp leveller ensured the points would be shared.
The history
West Ham and Newcastle have met 128 times previously, with Newcastle holding the edge with 51 victories to the Hammers’ 40.
The history dates back to an FA Cup tie in February 1908, which the Magpies won 3-0.
West Ham’s first win against the north east side came in the very first league meting, in October 1923, when William Brown’s goal was enough to separate the sides.
In recent times, West Ham defeated the Geordies 2-0 at the Boleyn Ground earlier this season thanks to a Dimitri Payet double, while the corresponding fixture last term ended 2-0 in Newcastle’s favour – a result which sealed their Premier League survival.
The match
Team news
West Ham United
The Hammers welcome Victor Moses back into their squad after a six-week lay-off due to a hamstring injury. The on-loan winger returned to full training this week.
Cheikhou Kouyate could also feature after sitting out of Tuesday’s game, but Andy Carroll is out after suffering a hamstring problem at the Vitality Stadium.
Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini are the only other absentees as Bilic begins to have more options to call upon again.
Newcastle United
Newcastle’s new signings Henri Salvert and Jonjo Shelvey could make their Magpies debuts in Saturday’s game against the Hammers.
However, Papiss Cisse has had surgery on a groin injury and is set to be out for a further month.
Match info
- Saturday’s referee is Neil Swarbrick. He will be assisted by Scott Ledger and John Brooks. Lee Mason is the fourth official. Swarbrick has refereed one Hammers match this term, the 2-2 draw at Sunderland in which he sent off the Black Cats’ Jeremain Lens.
- West Ham have won two of the last three encounters, including a 2-0 triumph at Upton Park in September.
- Newcastle have drawn a league-high five matches at home this season.
Ticketing, travel, coverage and other info
- Tickets for the game have SOLD OUT to Hammers supporters.
- Supporters travelling by train to the game can find up to the minute info here, while latest news on the roads is here.
- A very cold day is expected on Tyneside, with temperatures only crawling up to 2C (36F) at kick-off time. It is, at least, expected to be a dry day.
- If you’re not heading to the game, make sure you stay up to date on our digital channels. The whufc.com Match Centre has live audio commentary and text updates, in-running stats and photos and more, while you can get involved in the conversation on social using #NEWWHU